When we flipped the calendars two weeks ago, it looked like we were in line for the most boring September in recent memory in terms of playoff races. But a couple of key injuries here, a couple of sweeps there, and all of a sudden there's a glimmer of hope for some late-season drama.

One place where such drama exists is the AL wild-card race, as the Boston Red Sox roster suddenly resembles a M*A*S*H unit. The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten hot, sweeping the Red Sox last weekend, with another four-game series beginning tonight at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox remain the overwhelming statistical favorites -- being up four with 14 to play is a sizable mountain -- but one is forced to wonder what the standings would look like if the Rays had spent more time this year focusing on the present as opposed to the future.

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